Choked flechette weapon system

ABSTRACT

A flechette weapon system for ejecting a plurality of flechettes from a warhead of a missile in a uniform pattern. The system includes a launch tube provided with a choked section through which the flechettes pass when propelled by an explosive propelling force. The flechettes are carried by a slotted plastic container which contracts as it passes through the choked tube section.

United States Patent [191 Dilworth, Jr.

[451 May 6,1975

[ CHOKED FLECHETTE WEAPON SYSTEM [75] Inventor: Thomas E. Dilworth, Jr.,Huntsville,

Ala.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by theSecretary of the Army, Washington, DC

[22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 353,930

[52] US. Cl 102/63; 102/37.6; 102/43 C; 102/69; l02/DIG. 2; 102/67 [51]Int. Cl. F42b 13/48; F42b 7/00 [58] Field of Search l02/34.4, 37.6, 43C, 63, 102/69, DIG. 2

[56.] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,055,301 9/1962 Miller etal. 102/42 C 3,444,813 5/1969 Bird IOZ/DIG. 7

3,599,568 3/1965 Shellnutt et a] 102/42 C 3,656,433 4/1972 Thrailkill etal. l02/DIG. 7 3,675,576 7/1972 Whitney 3,765,336 10/1973 Kulsik102/37.6

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 427,055 11/1947 Italy 102/42 C PrimaryExaminer-Verlin R. Pendegrass Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert P. Gibson;Nathan Edelberg [57] ABSTRACT A flechette weapon system for ejecting aplurality of flechettes from a warhead of a missile in a uniformpattern. The system includes a launch tube provided with a chokedsection through which the flechettes pass when propelled by an explosivepropelling force. The flechettes are carried by a slotted plasticcontainer which contracts as it passes through the choked tube section.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures 1 CHOKED FLECHETTE WEAPON SYSTEM BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of flechette weaponsystems and means for controlling dispersion and increasing the velocityof the flechettes. Previous systems had problems in that individualflechettes exited the warhead at various velocities in an indiscriminatetarget pattern. These deficiencies necessitated the use of a largenumber of flechettes to obtain a reasonable degree of requiredperformance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has overcome the abovestated problems by providing a choked section in the missile warhead anda contracting flechette container. The addition of these elements causethe flechettes to exit the warhead at a constant individual flechettevelocity and in a uniform pattern thereby attaining a greater range forflechette performance.

This invention may be better understood from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional viewof the choked flechette weapon system.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference numeral identifies aflechette weapon system which includes a missile 12 having a launch tube14 and an ogive tip 16. An explosive mixture 18 is located in the tubeat an end opposite the ogive tip for creating a propelling pressure inthe launch tube. A wadding 20 is positioned next to the mixture forabsorbing shock and acting as an ejecting piston. Flechettes or rodpenetrators 22 are stacked in a plastic container 24 which directlyabuts piston 20. Flechettes are supported by some substance such assmall styrofoam balls 25 to maintain alignment. A section 26 of launchtube 14 located near the ogive tip is formed with the tube wall thickerthan the remainder of the tube.

This thickened section reduces the internal diameter of the tube andprovides a choked section. Container 24 is provided with a plurality ofslots 28 around its pe' riphery and inner center post to allow innercompression of the container as it passes through the choked section 26.The ogive tip is provided with an inwardly extending flange 30 having adepending collar 32 for mating with the choked section 26.

In operation the explosive mixture 18 is set off by a fuse or squib andcauses a pressure in the launch tube 12 behind the wadding 20. Thewadding material acts as a piston to move the plastic container 24 andflechettes 22 with it rapidly toward the ogive end of the warhead ormissile. Since the section 26 is of smaller diameter than the launchtube 12 a compression of the container takes place, due to slots 28, atit passes through this section. The container pushes off the ogive tipby a compressive air force created as the container and flechettes moveforward in response to the explosion of mixture 18 and the engagement ofcollar 32 by the upper edge of container 24. The ogive tip becomesaerodynamically unstable and then separates due to air drag and tumblesout of the way as the plastic container with the flechettes leave thetube. The container falls away due to air drag leaving the undistortedflechettes traveling at the same increased velocity in a uniform patterntoward their target.

I claim:

1. A flechette weapon system for ejecting at high velocity a pluralityof flechettes from a warhead of a missile comprising: a launch tube insaid missile, one end of said launch tube having a smaller innerdiameter than the remainder of the tube; an ogive tip for closing saidlaunch tube, said ogive tip having an inwardly extending flange and adepending collar thereon for mating with said launch tube; a containerfor stacking said flechettes in said launch tube; said container beingprovided with a plurality of slots around its periphery to allow innercompression of the container as it passes through said smaller innertube diameter; an ejection piston disposed in said launch tube engagingsaid container and said flechettes and pressurizing means in said launchtube to provide pressure for actuating said ejection piston and ejectingsaid flechettes.

1. A flechette weapon system for ejecting at high velocity a pluralityof flechettes from a warhead of a missile comprising: a launch tube insaid missile, one end of said launch tube having a smaller innerdiameter than the remainder of the tube; an ogive tip for closing saidlaunch tube, said ogive tip having an inwardly extending flange and adepending collar thereon for mating with said launch tube; a containerfor stacking said flechettes in said launch tube; said container beingprovided with a plurality of slots around its periphery to allow innercompression of the container as it passes through said smaller innertube diameter; an ejection piston disposed in said launch tube engagingsaid container and said flechettes and pressurizing means in said launchtube to provide pressure for actuating said ejection piston and ejectingsaid flechettes.